Grenade

ABSTRACT

According to the invention, and with reference to FIG.  5,  there is provided a grenade, having a case  1 , a sabot  2 , and a cover  3 . The sabot has a base part  12 , a space for receiving a projectile or projectiles  18 , and a plurality of petals  14 . The grenade is formed such that when it is arranged for use the sabot  2  is fitted to the case  1 , the projectile or projectiles  18  are within the space, and the cover  3  is fitted around the petals  18  wherein end parts of the petals bend towards one another to substantially encapsulate the projectile or projectiles  18 . The grenade is formed such that when it is in use and is fired from a suitable rifle a charge in the case causes the sabot  2  and the projectile or projectiles  18  to be propelled forward and punch through the cover  3  such that the projectile or projectiles  18  are released from the sabot  2  to a target.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a grenade. In particular, a preferredform of the invention relations to a grenade capable of being fired froma suitable rifle.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In the context of military operations it is desirable to have agrenade which can be fired with a rifle to deliver a pay load ofmetallic pellets or similar projectiles to a target. Grenades whichrelease pellets at a high velocity in a dispersed fashion areparticularly useful for close quarters combat, especially in a junglesituation. It is accordingly an object of at least one form of thepresent invention to provide a grenade which can be fired to deliverpellets or other projectiles to a target, or to at least provide thepublic with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided agrenade, having a case, a sabot, and a cover;

[0004] the sabot having a base part, a space for receiving a projectileor projectiles, and a plurality of petals;

[0005] the grenade being formed such that when it is arranged for usethe sabot is fitted to the case, the projectile or projectiles arewithin the space, and the cover is fitted around the petals wherein endparts of the petals bend towards one another to substantiallyencapsulate the projectile or projectiles;

[0006] the grenade being formed such that when it is in use and is firedfrom a suitable rifle a charge in the case causes the sabot and theprojectile or projectiles to be propelled forward and punch through thecover such that the projectile or projectiles are released from thesabot to a target.

[0007] Preferably the petals are arranged such that they fan outwards torelease the projectile or projectiles when the grenade has been firedand the sabot leaves the rifle.

[0008] Preferably the sabot is arranged such that it will spin within abarrel of the rifle when the grenade has been fired, the spin causingthe petals to fan outwards when they contact air outside the barrel.

[0009] Preferably the sabot has a resilient packing for receiving theprojectile or projectiles. The packing may be a pad formed from asuitable micro-cellular material.

[0010] Preferably the cover is substantially conical and has an open endand a closed end, the open end engaging the case, and the closed enddefining an extremity (eg nose) of the grenade, when the grenade is in aready for use arrangement.

[0011] Preferably the cover has a plurality of lines of weakness toassist the sabot and the projectile or projectiles to punch through thecover when the grenade is fired with the rifle. The lines of weaknessmay be in the form of fractures and/or grooves in the cover.

[0012] Preferably the cover and the case are fitted to one another byway of screw threads when the grenade is in a ready for use arrangement.

[0013] Preferably the case is arranged with an internal space adapted toact as at least part of a low pressure chamber, the low pressure chamberbeing defined in part by a wall and a floor, the wall and the floorbeing part of the case, the wall tapering in towards the floor andarranged such that the base part of the sabot can butt against the wallsuch that the floor and the base part of the sabot are spaced from oneanother. Preferably the wall merges into the floor in a substantiallycurved fashion.

[0014] Preferably the base part of the sabot has an obturating edgewhere it butts against the wall when the grenade is in a ready for usearrangement. This obturating edge facilitates a sealing contact betweenthe sabot and the wall.

[0015] Preferably the case has a high pressure chamber which, when thegrenade is in a ready for use arrangement, houses a charge (eg suitablecellulosic explosive material). When the grenade is ready for use thehigh pressure chamber may be substantially closed by a plug insertedinto the rest of the case, the plug containing the charge. The plugwhich itself forms part of the case and the high pressure chamber, maybe screw fitted to the rest of the case.

[0016] Preferably there is a passage or passages between the highpressure chamber and the low pressure chamber.

[0017] Preferably a sheet member, eg a thin disk, is within the highpressure chamber and covers the passage or passages when the grenade isin a ready for use arrangement.

[0018] Preferably the plug has a primer for igniting the charge.

[0019] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided agrenade for firing from a suitable rifle, the grenade having a case anda sabot, the sabot having an obturating edge for contacting the case toform a substantially water tight seal between the case and the sabot.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the invention there is provideda grenade for firing from a suitable rifle, the grenade having a caseand a sabot, the case having a high pressure chamber for receiving acharge, the high pressure chamber being substantially closed by a plug,the plug itself being part of the case, the plug having a primer andengaging the rest of the case by way of a screw thread arrangement.

[0021] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided agrenade adapted to be fired from a suitable rifle, the grenadeincorporating a case, a sabot, a plurality of projectiles, and a cover,the sabot having a plurality of flexible petals which substantiallyencapsulate the projectiles while the cover substantially encapsulatesthe petals and holds the petals against the projectiles.

[0022] Some preferred aspects and embodiments of the invention will nowbe described by way of example, and/or with reference to theaccompanying drawings, of which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is an external side view of a rifle grenade,

[0024]FIG. 2 is an over-head view of the grenade,

[0025]FIG. 3 is an underneath view of the grenade,

[0026]FIG. 4 is cross sectional view of the grenade taken through theline A-A as represented in FIG. 3,

[0027]FIG. 5 is a three dimensional cross-sectional view of the grenadetaken through the line A-A,

[0028]FIG. 6 is a three dimensional view of a sabot forming part of thegrenade, and

[0029]FIG. 7 is a three dimensional view of the sabot as it would appearwhen the grenade is in a ready to use arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the grenade has a case 1, a sabot 2,and a cover or nose cone 3. The case 1 and the nose cone 3 are adaptedto engage one another by way of a screw thread arrangement wherein thenose cone 3 screws into the case 1. The case 1 has a cup like plug 4which can be screwed into place by way of a screw thread arrangement todefine a high pressure chamber 5 within the case 1. The high pressurechamber 5 is adapted to hold a charge of a suitable cellulosic explosivematerial or similar. As shown, the plug 4 has a primer 6 for ignitingthe cellulosic explosive material when the grenade is fired from arifle.

[0031] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the plug 4 fits up against a 0.5mm copper disc 7, the disk 7 covering passages 8 extending away from thehigh pressure chamber 5. As shown, the passages 8 extend to a lowpressure chamber 9 defined within an internal space of the case 1. Morespecifically, the low pressure chamber 9 is defined by or between a wall10 and a floor 11 of the case, and the base 12 of the sabot 2. The base12 of the sabot has an obturating edge 13 which forms a gas-tight sealbetween the sabot 2 and the case 1.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 6, the sabot 2 has a plurality of wad petals 14extending upwards. Each of the petals are separated by slits 15 so thatthey can move independently of one another. As shown, each petal has afixed end 16 and a free end 17. FIG. 6 shows the sabot 2 prior to itassuming a ready for use orientation.

[0033] The ready for use orientation of the sabot 2 is shown at FIGS. 4,5 and 7, where a plurality of projectiles or pellets 18 are packedbetween the petals on a resilient foam packing or pad 19. As shown, whenready for use the petals 14 overlap one another to assume asubstantially conical shape, and are held in that orientation by way ofthe nose cone 3. More specifically, the petals 14 bend inwards underpressure from the nose cone 3, and substantially encapsulate thepellets. The petals may not completely enclose the pellets as the apexof the conical shape may remain slightly open. However, even in thissituation, and for the purposes of this document, the petals should beinterpreted as substantially encapsulating the pellets. The nose cone 3thus enshrouds both the petals 2 and the pellets 18 to maintain thepetals in the desired orientation. The pellets are held tight and aresubstantially prevented from rattling within the sabot due to thepressure of the nose cone, and also due to the compressive effect of theresilient pad 19 on the pellets.

[0034] The nose cone 3 is formed with grooves, fracture lines, or otherlines of weakness so that it can be readily ruptured when desired. Thenose cone 3 may be formed from a suitable plastics material, for examplea suitable polyethylene material. The sabot 2 is preferably formed froma suitable urethane material, and the case 1 is primarily formed from asuitable metallic substance.

[0035] When the grenade is in use it is loaded into a grenade firingrifle and fired. The charge in the high pressure chamber 5 detonates,blows through the copper disc 7, and sends gases through the passages 8and into the low pressure chamber 9. This causes the sabot 2, includingthe pellets 18, to blast through the nose cone 3 and move down thebarrel of the rifle. The case 1 is left within the rifle. The sabot isarranged such that as it moves down the barrel it is caused to spin.When the sabot 2 passes out of the end of the barrel, the force of theoutside air on the spinning sabot 2, and in particular on the petals 14,causes the petals 14 to open or flare outwards thus releasing thepellets 18 at high velocity. The pellets 18 proceed to a desired target,leaving the sabot 2 behind due to the slowing effect of the outside airon the flared petals 14.

[0036] The pellets 18 are preferably lead balls coated with copper, andwhen fired as above spray outwards making it difficult for a fleeingtarget to avoid them. In some embodiments of the invention the pellets18 may be capable of blowing a door off its hinges.

[0037] When a grenade is fired as above it will be evident to thoseskilled in the art that there is a need to protect the barrel of therifle from damage by the pellets 18. This protection is achieved by wayof the petals 14, which only open to release the pellets 18 when thesabot has passed out of the end of the barrel. In the embodiment of theinvention described above the case 1 is substantially 40 mm in diameter,although it should be understood that this is not a restriction on thescope of the invention.

[0038] While some preferred aspects and embodiments of the inventionhave been described by way of example, it should be appreciated thatmodifications and improvements can occur without departing from thescope of the appended claims.

1. A grenade, having a case, a sabot, and a cover; the sabot having abase part, a space for receiving a projectile or projectiles, and aplurality of petals; the grenade being formed such that when it isarranged for use the sabot is fitted to the case, the projectile orprojectiles are within the space, and the cover is fitted around thepetals wherein end parts of the petals bend towards one another tosubstantially encapsulate the projectile or projectiles; the grenadebeing formed such that when it is in use and is fired from a suitablerifle a charge in the case causes the sabot and the projectile orprojectiles to be propelled forward and punch through the cover suchthat the projectile or projectiles are released from the sabot to atarget.
 2. A grenade according to claim 1, wherein the petals arearranged such that they fan outwards to release the projectile orprojectiles when the grenade has been fired and the sabot leaves therifle.
 3. A grenade according to claim 1, wherein the sabot is arrangedsuch that it will spin within a barrel of the rifle when the grenade hasbeen fired, the spin causing the petals to fan outwards when theycontact air outside the barrel.
 4. A grenade according to claim 1,wherein the sabot has a resilient packing for receiving the projectileor projectiles.
 5. A grenade according to claim 1, wherein the cover issubstantially conical and has an open end and a closed end, the open endengaging the case, and the closed end defining an extremity of thegrenade, when the grenade is in a ready for use arrangement.
 6. Agrenade according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a plurality of linesof weakness to assist the sabot and the projectile or projectiles topunch through the cover when the grenade is fired with the rifle.
 7. Agrenade according to claim 1, wherein the cover and the case are fittedto one another by way of screw threads when the grenade is in a readyfor use arrangement.
 8. A grenade according to claim 1, wherein the caseis arranged with an internal space adapted to act as at least part of alow pressure chamber, the low pressure chamber being defined in part bya wall and a floor, the wall and the floor being part of the case, thewall tapering in towards the floor and arranged such that the base partof the sabot butts against the wall such that the floor and the basepart of the sabot are spaced from one another.
 9. A grenade according toclaim 1, wherein the case is arranged with an internal space adapted toact as at least part of a low pressure chamber, the low pressure chamberbeing defined in part by a wall and a floor, the wall and the floorbeing part of the case, the wall tapering in towards the floor andarranged such that the base part of the sabot butts against the wallsuch that the floor and the base part of the sabot are spaced from oneanother, and wherein the wall merges into the floor in a substantiallycurved fashion.
 10. A grenade according to claim 1, wherein the case isarranged with an internal space adapted to act as at least part of a lowpressure chamber, the low pressure chamber being defined in part by awall and a floor, the wall and the floor being part of the case, thewall tapering in towards the floor and arranged such that the base partof the sabot butts against the wall such that the floor and the basepart of the sabot are spaced from one another, and wherein the base partof the sabot has an obturating edge where it butts against the wall whenthe grenade is in a ready for use arrangement.
 11. A grenade accordingto claim 1, wherein the case has a high pressure chamber which, when thegrenade is in a ready for use arrangement, houses the charge.
 12. Agrenade according to claim 1, wherein when the grenade is ready for usethe high pressure chamber is substantially closed by a plug insertedinto the rest of the case.
 13. A grenade according to claim 1, whereinthe case has a high pressure chamber which, when the grenade is in aready for use arrangement, houses a charge, and wherein there is one ofa passage and passages between the high pressure chamber and the lowpressure chamber.
 14. A grenade according to claim 1, wherein the casehas a high pressure chamber which, when the grenade is in a ready foruse arrangement, houses a charge, and wherein there is one of a passageand passages between the high pressure chamber and the low pressurechamber, and wherein there is a sheet member within the high pressurechamber which is against the passage or passages when the grenade is ina ready for use arrangement.
 15. A grenade, having a case, a sabot, anda cover; the sabot having a base part, a space for receivingprojectiles, and a plurality of petals; the grenade being formed suchthat when it is arranged for use the sabot is fitted to the case, theprojectiles are within the space, and the cover is fitted around thepetals wherein end parts of the petals bend towards one another tosubstantially encapsulate the projectiles; the grenade being formed suchthat when it is in use and is fired from a suitable rifle a charge inthe case causes the sabot and the projectiles to be propelled forwardand punch through the cover such that the projectiles are released fromthe sabot to a target; the grenade being formed such that the case isarranged with an internal space adapted to function as at least part ofa low pressure chamber, the low pressure chamber being defined in partby a wall and a floor, the wall and the floor being part of the case,the wall tapering in towards the floor and arranged such that the basepart of the sabot butts against the wall such that the floor and thebase part of the sabot are spaced from one another; the case having ahigh pressure chamber which, when the grenade is in a ready for usearrangement, houses the charge, and the high pressure chamber issubstantially closed by a plug inserted into the rest of the case, andwherein there is a primer adapted for igniting the charge, and whereinthere are passages between the high pressure chamber and the lowpressure chamber.
 16. A grenade according to claim 15, wherein thepetals are arranged to fan outwards when they leave the rifle, andwherein the cover has a plurality of lines of weakness to assist thesabot and the projectiles to punch through the cover when the grenade isfired with the rifle, and wherein there is a sheet member within thehigh pressure chamber which is against the passages.
 17. A grenadeaccording to claim 15, wherein the petals are arranged to fan outwardswhen they leave the rifle, and wherein the cover has a plurality oflines of weakness to assist the sabot and the projectiles to punchthrough the cover when the grenade is fired with the rifle, there beinga sheet member within the high pressure chamber which is against thepassages, the wall merging with the floor in a substantially curvedfashion, and wherein the base part of the sabot has an obturating edgewhere it butts against the wall.